Direct electrocatalytic oxidation of nitric oxide and reduction of hydrogen peroxide based on α-Fe2O3 nanoparticles-chitosan composite

α-Fe2O3 nanoparticles prepared using a simple solution-combusting method have been dispersed in chitosan (CH) solution to fabricate nanocomposite film on glass carbon electrode (GCE). The as-prepared α-Fe2O3 nanoparticles were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The nanocomposite film exhibits high electrocatalytic oxidation for nitric oxide (NO) and reduction for hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). The electrocatalytic oxidation peak is observed at +0.82 V (vs. Ag/AgCl) and controlled by diffusion process. The electrocatalytic reduction peak is observed at −0.45 V (vs. Ag/AgCl) and controlled by diffusion process. This α-Fe2O3–CH/GCE nanocomposite bioelectrode has response time of 5 s, linearity as 5.0 × 10−7 to 15.0 × 10−6 M of NO with a detection limit of 8.0 × 10−8 M and a sensitivity of −283.6 μA/mM. This α-Fe2O3–CH/GCE nanocomposite bioelectrode was further utilized in detection of H2O2 with a detection limit of 4.0 × 10−7 M, linearity as 1.0 × 10−6 to 44.0 × 10−6 M and with a sensitivity of 21.62 μA/mM. The shelf life of this bioelectrode is about 6 weeks under room temperature conditions.